Harley-Davidson 1250 V-ROD 10th Anniversary VRSC 2012 — Specifications

Ten years after causing a stir among Harley enthusiasts, the V-Rod returns with an anniversary edition that doesn’t go unnoticed. Let's recall the context: in 2002, Milwaukee pulled a motorcycle out of its hat that looked like a Harley as much as a shark looks like a trout. Liquid cooling, four-valve cylinder heads, Revolution engine developed in partnership with Porsche, 49 mm diameter inverted fork. Purists nearly choked on their bandanas. And yet, the formula had stood the test of time.

To celebrate its tenth anniversary, this muscular custom is draped in a Brilliant Silver Pearl finish from head to handlebar, a pearlescent gray that plays between industrial and precious. The limited edition doesn’t skimp on the details: silver wheels and dashboard, polished fork, worked handlebar, brushed aluminum frame and headlight cowl, chrome silencer and protections. It’s flashy, assumed, and consistent with the spirit of a collector’s series. Harley knows how to package an anniversary.

Under the bodywork, the 1246 cc V-twin at 60 degrees remains the heart of the system. With 125 horsepower at 8,250 rpm and 110.8 Nm of torque available at 7,250 rpm, this twin is nothing like a Sunday afternoon cruiser engine. It demands revs, unlike the large naturally aspirated Twin Cam engines that deliver their torque from idle. It’s another philosophy, more nervous, less organic, which brings the V-Rod closer to a sporty bike disguised as a custom than a traditional cruiser. The five-speed belt transmission ensures smooth transitions, and the announced top speed of 210 km/h leaves no doubt about the temperament of the beast.

The machine weighs 302 kg when fully fueled, which places the V-Rod in the heavyweight category, but the low seat at 675 mm partially compensates for this disadvantage when stopped. The braking, entrusted to two 300 mm front discs with four-piston calipers, is up to the performance. The wide tires, 240/40-18 at the rear, give this characteristic shape that has become the visual signature of the range.

At €18,190, this anniversary edition is aimed at a public of collectors as well as riders. It’s not a beginner’s bike, nor one for a long-distance traveler: it’s a piece of character for someone who wants to ride American without giving up an engine capable of maintaining a sustained pace. Faced with a Ducati Diavel or a BMW R 18, the V-Rod plays a different part, less versatile but more radical in its identity. Ten years and still as divisive, it’s almost a compliment.